Pounding and washing machine



(No Model.)

W. C.-NELSON.

POUNDING AND WASHING MACHINE.

No. 328,136. Patented Oct. 13, 1885.

me/wto r/ N. PUEHS. PhotvLithngnp er, Washinmum D-C- UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM G. NELSON, OF SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA.

POUNDING AND WASHING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of'Letters Patent No. 328,136, dated October 13,1885.

Application filed March 9, 1885. Serial No. 158,238. (Nomodel.

T 0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, VVILLIAM CLARK NEL- soN, of Santa Rosa, Sonoma county, State of California, have invented an Improvement in \Vashing-Machines; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to a device for pounding and washing clothes, or for other similar duty.

It consists of a vessel open at the upper end, having elastic arms secured to each side and extending to some distance above the top, their upper ends inclining outwardly, and having flexible cords uniting and drawing them together, and a means for suspending the handle of a pounder centrally over the open top of the vessel, so that it may be forced down by hand to strike upon the contents of the vessel, and it will be raised by the elasticity of the arms. The pounder has also a number of perforations and a valve within it.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more complete explanation of my inven-. tion, Figure l is a view of my apparatus. Fig. 2 is a View of the clamp. Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the pounder.

A is a vessel-of any suitable size or dimensions. In the present case I have shown it in the form of a cask having the upper end left open. To the sides of this vessel and near the bottom are clamped or otherwise secured two elastic arms, 13, which extend upward to a considerable distance above the top of the vessel, diverging outwardly, so that their upper ends are separated, as shown. By means of the clamps the arms B may be easily removed and reversed, when desired. The upper ends are united by a flexible link, G, which extends from one to the other, and is made short enough to draw the upper ends of the arms toward eachother somewhat. The central portion of this uniting device has a clamp formed by two wires, D D, having their inner ends curved, so that a loop upon the end of each one clasps the side of the opposite one, as shown. This forms a clasp, within which the upper end of the handle or pounder-shank E may be held by the tension caused by the elasticity of the springs. This handle has a series of grooves or channels out around it, as

shown at F, and the clasp may be made to hold it at either of these points, so as to raise or lower the pounder with relation to the contents of the vessel.

The pounder G is fixed at the lower end of the handle E, and is constructed to suit the work to be done. In the present case I have shown this pounder in a conical form, the lower end or base being of considerable diame ter, and having holes H madein it, extending upward, so as to connect with the transverse openings at the top. A valve is fixed inside ofthis opening, so that as the pounder is raised a vacuum is produced, which acts to lift the clothes and loosen them up from the bottom. It will be manifest that this apparatus may be used for other work besides clothe wherever it is necessary to deliver blows, and to regulate the force of the blow.

The operation will be as follows: The articles to be operated upon being placed within the vessel, the pounder is introduced, and the handle is adjusted between the clamps D to a height suitable for the work to be done or the amount of material within the vessel, and will be held securely by the clamps grasping it around the grooves or channels'F. The pounder is forced down by hand, and the elasticity of the arms B, tending to draw the uniting-link straight, will raise the pounder again, lifting the clothes also by the vacuum produced, so that no force need be exercised in lifting it, and the blows may be delivered with any desired force upon whatever-is within the vessel. An open-work grating is fitted into the bottom of the vessel A, to allow dirt and sediment to settle.

Having thus described myinvention, whatI claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a washing or pounding machine, an open-top vessel having the divergent arms extending above its top at opposite sides, a flexible connection uniting the upper ends of these arms, and a clasp formed by the curved wires in the center, as shown, in combination with the handle E, having the channels or grooves F, whereby the pounder may be suspended and the height adjusted, substantially as herein described.

2. In a washing or pounding machine, the

open-top vessel having the elastic diverging and reversible arms extending upward upon opposite sides, and the flexible connectinglink, with a central clasp formed by the curved wires D D, in combination with a pounder having a grooved or channeled handle, the inclined passages leading to a central passage, the transverse holes intersecting the central passage, and the valve in the base, substantially as herein described. 10

In. witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM G. NELSON. Witnesses:

J OHN N. YOUNG, S. H. NoURsE. 

